Summer is on it’s way which means it will be tourist season in Alaska. People flock to Alaska each year to look for whales, go hiking, camping, fishing and much more. I now know from experience it is a gorgeous place and can’t wait to get back there and experience so much more!
You all know by now how much I enjoy a good deal, and you don’t have to break the bank to discover and enjoy all that this great city has to offer. When traveling on a budget, there are unlimited opportunities to discover and explore. Here are 20 opportunities that are just $10 or less.

1.      Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
This spectacular, paved, multi-use trail hugs the Anchorage coastline of Cook Inlet from Second Avenue in downtown Anchorage all the way to south Anchorage’s Kincaid Park, located 11 sprawling miles away. Whether walking, running, biking, or blading, keep an eye out for dramatic views of Knik Arm, Cook Inlet, six mountain ranges surrounding Anchorage and the beauty of Sleeping Lady mountain across the water, Earthquake Park and Point Woronzof. Wildlife viewing is abundant with many birds, small mammals, beluga whales, moose and even an occasional bear sighting.
Cost – FREE

2.      Anchorage Market and Festival
Held in downtown Anchorage every Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer, this open air market mixes one-of-a-kind arts, crafts and giant Alaska grown vegetables with live music, street performers and a selection of local and international food.
Admission – FREE

3.      Wild Salmon on Parade
Wild salmon take to the streets each summer from June through late August, when 20 wacky salmon sculptures “swim” through downtown during Wild Salmon on Parade. These aren’t your ordinary chum – the four-foot statues are original, whimsical designs by Alaska artists. Established in 2003 and modeled after Cows on Parade in Chicago, Wild Salmon on Parade is a fun way to raise awareness and appreciation for salmon habitat, history and its physical properties. As the summer ends and the salmon run slows, the sculptures are auctioned off for charity at the annual Fish Fry & Buy.
Cost – FREE
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Since I have been feeling a little land locked lately (mostly because I have been working like crazy), I decided to cheer myself up by listing some of the trips I am planning to take in the next six months, as well as recap the trips I have already taken due to the fact that the year is already half over.

Trips I have already taken this year:

1. Anaheim/Disneyland
2. Washington DC
3. Anchorage, Alaska
4. Saint George, Utah
5. Las Vegas, Nevada

Ok, so the first part of the year was a little slow as far as travel goes, which makes me a little sad. However, when I think about it- we bought a house in February and we spent the winter doing a fair amount of snowboarding, so I guess you could add Park City, Utah to the list.  Anyways, I am gearing up for Fall travel season which includes an awesome trip to Europe (my first time!). I used to say that we are going to backpack through Europe but apparently that’s not true- I was told we are packing our clothes in a backpack and going to Europe. So that accounts for the first five places on the list- and the rest are stateside cities or states I want to visit.

Trips I want/will take this year:

1. London, England
2. Athens, Greece
3. Ireland
4. Slovenia (here is a map- in case you want to know where this is)
5. Paris, France
6. New York City
7. San Diego
8. Seattle
9. Oregon Coast
10.North Carolina

We decided to explore Anchorage and try to get a feel for the culture of this unique city. Our first stop was downtown Anchorage to a market festival that they hold every Saturday. It’s a great place to find Alaskan souvenirs. I would suggest an Alaskan ulu (oo-loo). The ulu is a knife and the design comes from the Inupiat, an Alaska native group of North Western Alaska. Just down the street from the festival is The Ulu Factory where you can watch them make ulus and pick up one for yourself that even comes with an instructional video! Plus the ulu factory offers free rides to and from the factory making stops in downtown Anchorage.

After a lunch of reindeer sausage (apparently you can’t go to Anchorage without eating reindeer sausage) we walked to the Anchorage Train Station, because I really wanted to buy my dad a model Alaskan Railroad train caboose. The next time we come back to Alaska, I am definitely going to take the train. It’s pretty expensive, so definitely not for the cheap traveler but I think it’s probably worth it for the ambiance. The trains follow scenic routes and the tops of the trains are windows. However, I did like the ability to stop wherever we wanted to take pictures, to go hiking, and also to be able to go off the beaten path and explore new things.

After the train station we headed over to the Tony Knowles coastal trail. It’s about nine miles long and wraps around the Anchorage coast. I would suggest renting a bike- it’s long and it would make it easier to see more. We made the mistake of walking, we got about two miles and decided to turn around. There are a few places to rent bikes pretty close to the trail.

Downtown Anchorage reminds me a little bit of San Francisco, a bunch of cute little stores and souvenir shops. It was fun to explore the more metro side of Anchorage. Afterwards we decided to go for a little drive, and this time headed north from Anchorage. We found some really neat camping grounds; saw a few more moose, and some nice looking suburban neighborhoods.

We ate dinner at a local themed restaurant and then sadly it was time to go to the airport. It was a quick trip, but definitely a once in a lifetime must. If you have ever thought about going to Alaska- you need to. There is just something about that place, I think about it a lot now that I am back. It’s enchanting. The beauty in Alaska is unlike anything else.